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@BerkeleyMBT
Program Benefits
Hands-on training
Core lab courses teach you CRISPR gene editing, bioinformatics, and cutting-edge experimental methods used in biomedical research.
Internships
Our internship program provides a unique opportunity for you to grow your experimental skillset in a real-world industry or academic setting.
Career mentorship
We prepare you for a successful career after graduation by helping you explore careers in biotech and academia, polish up your resumé/CV, and practice interviews.
Program at a Glance
Our Master of Biotechnology program is a 30-unit, one-year accelerated program with a full-time course load.
Courses begin in early July, are fully in-person, and prepare you for your Spring internships with our industry and academic partners.
Integrated core lab courses leverage our faculty's expertise to train you on CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, stem cell culture, and bioinformatics.
Our internship program connects you with local biotechnology companies, campus labs, and partner institutes, where you will gain highly desired, hands-on research experience.
We prioritize your professional development and offer courses to prepare you to succeed in a wide range of career paths.
Timeline
Summer: 7-week intensive molecular biology lab bootcamp
Fall: Bioinformatics lab and elective courses
Spring: Internship and capstone project
More detailed information can be found on the Curriculum page.
Internship Program
Our program's signature component, a 3-4 month internship, takes place each Spring semester.
The goal of our internship program is to provide you with an important opportunity to get highly desired research experience in a real-world setting.
We work closely with our internship partners to help you find an internship position that fits your future career goals.
During your internship, you perform full-time research, while working closely with your internship mentor and faculty advisor to develop your capstone project.
Explore more on our Internship Program page.
Chart Your Internship Direction
Whether you want to jump into industry after graduation or apply for PhD programs or medical school, our program sets you up to make the most of your time here with the option to choose one of two tracks that shape your internship experience.
Industry Track
On the industry track, you have the opportunity to join a biotech company for your internship, where you will gain first-hand experience of the operations of biotech companies and learn how to translate scientific discoveries into impactful technologies and therapeutics.
Internship application and placement will happen in the Fall semester, and internships start at the beginning of February.
Academic Track
For those of you aiming to hone your research skills, you can join a faculty lab, connect with the exciting research environment in our department, and learn how to conduct rigorous, cutting-edge science while exploring key questions in biology.
On the academic track, you may start the internship as early as September and gain a full academic year's research experience.
Events and Deadlines
September 10, 2025: Applications for our 2026-27 cohort are now open!
October 6, 2025 at 3:00PM Pacific Time: We will host our first information session as part of the 2025 Graduate Diversity Admissions Fair. Thank you to everyone who attended!
November 14, 2025 at 8:00PM Pacific Time: We will host a second information session where we will go over our program and guide you through the application process. Thank you for attending!
December 4, 2025 at 10:00AM Pacific Time: We will host our third information session in December. Thanks to everyone who attended!
January 15, 2026 at 8:59PM Pacific Time: Applications closed on January 15, 2026. Thank you to everyone who applied!
Information Sessions
Join our information sessions to stay up to date on our program and our admissions process. During our information sessions, we provide an overview of our program and walk through the admissions process to help you create a competitive application.
Our information sessions for this application cycle have concluded. Thank you to everyone who attended! If you missed the information sessions or would like to review what was presented, you can check out the recording of our previous information session for this admissions cycle.
Faculty
As part of the MCB department, the Master of Biotechnology program is connected to the department's world-renowned faculty, who lead labs performing cutting-edge research covering a wide range of modern fields.
A number of MCB faculty are closely involved with the master's program, and they include:
Career Mentorship
Our faculty, who are leaders in their fields and have experience taking their work from bench to biotech, provide personalized career mentorship.
Core courses offer ample opportunity to explore biotech and academia, while helping to polish up your resumé and practice mock interviews.
Extensive campus and departmental career resources help prepare you to enter the biomedical workforce with ease.
More information can be found on our Professional Development page.
Apply
Applications open:
Fall 2026
Applications close:
January 15, 2027
Starting Your Application
Apply to our program to become a part of a diverse and driven community of students and faculty and expand your future career opportunities in biomedical research by taking advantage of UC Berkeley's unique position as a world-class research institution and its location at the epicenter of U.S. biotech innovation.
Applications must be completed online through the application portal. Please read and review our program's admissions requirements.
A detailed timeline of the current admissions cycle can be found on our Apply page.
If you have or will have received your undergraduate degree from an institution outside of the U.S., you will need to submit evidence of English language proficiency.
FAQ
Program Questions
Who is this program designed for?
Our program is designed for people who want hands-on training in cutting-edge molecular biology techniques and highly-desired research experience in an industrial or academic lab. We aim to cultivate a diverse and engaged student body who are driven to make the most of our program's unique position at a world-class research institution within the hub of U.S. biotech innovation.
Is part-time study or remote study an option?
The Master of Biotechnology program is a full-time program with in-person courses.
Can I take classes outside of the program?
No, due to the full-time course load, you will be unable to take additional courses outside of the ones offered by our program. A list of offered courses is available on the Course Schedule page.
Will I have to find an internship on my own?
No, unlike other programs, we coordinate with our internship partners to help you find available internship positions that fit your future career goals.
What is the cost for this program?
You can find information on the current program fees on the Program Fees page.
General Admissions Questions
Am I eligible for admission even though I did not major in biological sciences or a related discipline as an undergraduate student?
We understand that people may decide to change career paths or their interests may shift. If you can demonstrate in your application that you have the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in this program, then don't let your undergraduate major deter you from applying.
How are applicants evaluated for admission to the program?
Admission to the program is based on a holistic evaluation process and provides multiple opportunities for you to demonstrate your scientific aptitude and potential to succeed during your time in the program and beyond.
Do you offer rolling admissions?
No, the application cycle starts in early Fall, and admissions decisions are announced in early Spring. Classes begin in the summer. A detailed timeline of the current admissions cycle can be found on our Apply page.
Will I be notified when my application is complete?
Yes, after your application materials are processed, you will receive an email notification informing you that your application is complete and will be reviewed by the admissions committee.
Can I update my application after I have submitted it?
No, you cannot make any changes to your application after you have submitted it, even if you submitted your application prior to the deadline.
Will there be interviews?
Yes, we conduct interviews with select applicants as part of the admissions process. Interviews will be held over Zoom.
Academic Records and Test Scores Questions
Do I need to upload official transcripts with my application?
No, you just need to upload unofficial transcripts with your application. UC Berkeley Graduate Division will require you submit official documents after you have accepted your admissions offer and enrolled in the program.
My GPA is not on a 4.0 scale. What do I do?
You can leave the GPA field blank. You still need to provide your undergraduate transcripts regardless.
What if I am still in school or have not yet completed my degree?
You can upload your most current unofficial transcript. It must include grades from your most recently completed semester or quarter. Once you have accepted your admissions offer, you must submit your official transcript indicating that you have completed your undergraduate degree.
Letters of Recommendation Questions
How can I check the status of my letters of recommendation?
You can check on the application status page. You will also receive an email notification when a letter writer has submitted their letter.
Can my letter writer submit a hardcopy of their letter?
Please do not submit or mail hardcopies of recommendation letters. We only accept letters through the online application portal.
Do I have to waive my right to see my letters of recommendation?
You can decide either way, but keep in mind that some letter writers will not write a recommendation unless you waive your right to see them. This is something you should discuss with your letter writer when you ask for a recommendation. You should also note that letters are generally seen as more reliable if you have waived your right to access them.
Can I submit my application if my letter writers have not yet submitted their letters?
Yes, you can submit your application even if your letter writers have not submitted their letters yet. They will still be able to submit letters after you've submitted your application.
Can I submit my application if my letter writers have not yet submitted their letters?
Check to make sure that you've sent the initial invitation to your letter writer. If it's been a while since you've sent the invitation, think about following up with them to make sure they received the link from the application portal, or consider sending them a friendly courtesy reminder that the deadline to submit their letter is approaching.
What do I do if my letter writer still hasn't submitted their letter and the deadline is approaching?
Check to make sure that you've sent the initial invitation to your letter writer. If it's been a while since you've sent the invitation, think about following up with them to make sure they received the link from the application portal, or consider sending them a friendly courtesy reminder that the deadline to submit their letter is approaching.
Encountering issues with this page? Contact our MBT program office.